Brits sell home to travel Asia on £40 a day with family of five
A Family's Bold Move from the UK to Southeast Asia
A family of five has made a life-changing decision to leave the United Kingdom and embrace a new lifestyle in southeast Asia. Amelia, 31, and Billy Evans, 37, along with their children—Archie, four, Annie, two, and Albert, one—have traded their five-bedroom home for a more flexible and affordable way of living. Their daily budget is now just £40, a stark contrast to the £83 they spent per day back in the UK.
The couple felt that they were spending too much time working and not enough time as a family. They wanted to show their kids that there are alternative ways to live beyond what society typically expects. The idea came after they traveled to Thailand in July for seven weeks to see if they could adapt to life there. After falling in love with the country, they decided to sell their house and move permanently.
Amelia, a digital nomad from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, shared her thoughts on the decision: "It all happened really quickly for us. In July, we set off to Thailand for a 'dip your toes in first' type of experience to see if it's something we'd be prepared to do and sell the house for. On our return, we put the house up for sale."
The main reason behind their move was the feeling of being trapped in the traditional nine-to-five work schedule. "We felt like we only got one day a week as a family on a Sunday—it was just not cutting it," Amelia explained. "We wanted also to be able to show our kids they don't need to follow what society tells you to do."
In the UK, Amelia, a self-employed hairdresser, and Billy, who worked in telecommunications, were spending over 108 hours a week at work. Now, they're learning new skills online during their travels. Amelia is re-training as a life coach, and Billy plans to follow suit with his next venture.
Keeping a number of 'sentimental' items in storage back at home, the family have taken just two backpacks and two suitcases with them on their travels. Their kids will join 'pop-up hubs' that offer educational activities while they are in Asia, but they will also be homeschooled as planned by their parents.
Amelia said: "Our first stop is Bangkok as we're wanting to spend a week there and go up to North Thailand like Chiang Mai and come back down south to explore the islands. We'll do about three months there and move onto other places in southeast Asia. The kids are very excited."
The family’s initial reaction from friends and family has been mixed. "Most people are supportive and are all for it. Of course, you get a handful of people who say, 'Are you crazy? Have you really thought about it?'" Amelia added.
Cost Comparison: UK vs. Thailand
Back in the UK, the family’s monthly expenses included:
- Food shop per week: £200
- Mortgage: £1,200
- Bills/utilities: £600
- Family outings: minimum £200 per month
- Total monthly spend: In excess of £2,500 with phone bills, car, insurance
In Thailand, their expenses are significantly lower:
- Accommodation: £550/650 including bills
- Eating out: Still allow £150/200 a week to eat out nearly every meal (3 x a day)
- Recreation activities: Low cost/free activities like beaches, waterfalls, markets, temples, social meets.
- Daily spend: £40
- Total monthly spend: £1,250
Amelia noted that many people think they shouldn’t have sold the house. "It's a lot for our immediate family to process as we're not on the doorstep anymore." However, she believes the benefits of living in Thailand far outweigh the challenges. "This city [Bangkok] never sleeps—it's incredible you can do what you want any time of day. People have this perception that Thailand is for a certain type of men but it's so family oriented, the kids thrive here."
The family is now settled into their new life in Asia and are set to visit their next destination, Hua Hin, on November 26 for Christmas and New Year. With "no definite plan," they will continue to move from place to place and "go with the flow."
